WWE Shake Up Part 1: Smackdown to Raw

Day 1 of the Raw/Smackdown Shakeup is on! This post highlights WWE Superstars going from Smackdown to Raw. Apollo Crews was announced as going to RAW early Monday afternoon. Calisto, Heath Slater and Rhyno (Tag Team) were announced during RAW as coming to the Red Brand.

Apollo Crews

Calisto

Heath Slater and Rhyno

The Miz

Maryse

Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose

Curt Hawkins

Bray Wyatt

Alexia Bliss

Mickey James

David Otunga (Commentator)

…What we don’t know yet is if any of the RAW Superstars appearing tonight will also appear on Smackdown tomorrow night. That’s certainly possible.

Dean Ambrose iS booked to defend the IC Championship at Payback vs. Baron Corbin and will likely retain so the IC title stays with him on RAW. Speaking of Ambrose, Rene Young confirmed on Talking Smack this week she and Ambrose got married in Las Vegas on Sunday. If I had to guess, they wanted to get married before the roster change was announced. Their offscreen relationship was part of the feud involving Dean Ambrose and The Miz last year.

In addition, Bray Wyatt will challenge Randy Orton to a rematch for the WWE Championship at Payback in 3 weeks. He probably won’t be involved in any RAW storylines until that match’s outcome which he will likely be booked to lose to keep the WWE Championship on Smackdown. He has taken an interst in Finn Balor on that note.

…Now that RAW is done, the Smackdown imports are mostly as expected or meant to make room for the smaller Smackdown roster. Alexia Bliss moving to RAW was teased on WWE.com so…yeah. I’m almost certain Charlotte will be on Smackdown tomorrow. The question is who else from the Women’s Division will join her? My money’s on Nia Jaxx or Sasha Banks.

Bray Wyatt, The Miz and Dean Ambrose will be huge draws. Apollo Crews, Health Slater and Rhyno could too if they’re used properly. Calisto and Hawkins were likely moved just to clear space in Smackdown.